Multiple color paint spray system

ABSTRACT

A multiple color paint spray system for sequentially supplying selected ones of a plurality of colors to a single spray outlet. A pair of parallel paint manifolds are each connected to the sources of a plurality of colored paints and a solvent. Both manifolds are connected to a single spray gun through a two position valve or to a group of guns each having its two position valve. While paint of one color is being supplied to the outlet from one manifold, the other manifold is conditioned by a solvent purge and filled with the next color to be supplied so that color change to the spray gun or guns may be rapidly effected by switching the two position valve or all the valves simultaneously from one manifold to the other. In a second embodiment, a fourway valve is used to simultaneously supply paint of one color to the gun from one manifold to carry the solvent purge from the second manifold to a disposal source.

United States Patent Kock 1 July 4, 1972 54] MULTIPLE COLOR PAINT SPRAY3,219,273 11/1965 Killen ..239/15 SYSTEM 3,373,762 3/1968 Korchak .239112 x 3,450,092 6/1969 Kock ..118/2 [72] Inventor: Erhard Kock, Toledo,Ohio [73] Assignee: Champion Spark Plug Company, Toledo,

Ohio

[22] Filed: May 14, 1971 21 Appl. NO.I 143,309

Related US. Application Data [631 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 7,465,Feb. 2,

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S.Cl ..239/1,l37/240, 239/112, 239/569, 239/574 [51] lnt.Cl..E01b,E05b 15/02 [58] Field of Search ..239/112, 569, 574, 1; 137/240,137/606 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,502 l/1914Smith ..137/606 X 3,145,930 8/1964 Herklotz etal..

Juvinall ..ll8/ll CONTROL AIR SUPPLY PURGE Am SUPPLY /3 MANIFOLD IPrimary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. GrantAtt0rney0wen & Owen 1571 ABSTRACT A multiple color paint spray systemfor sequentially supplying selected ones of a plurality of colors to asingle spray outlet. A pair of parallel paint manifolds are eachconnected to the sources of a plurality of colored paints and a solvent.Both manifolds are connected to a single spray gun through a twoposition valve or to a group of guns each having its two position valve.While paint of one color is being supplied to the outlet from onemanifold, the other manifold is conditioned by a solvent purge andfilled with the next color to be supplied so that color change to thespray gun or guns may be rapidly effected by switching the two positionvalve or all the valves simultaneously from one manifold to the other.In a second embodiment, a four-way valve is used to simultaneouslysupply paint of one color to the gun from one manifold to carry thesolvent purge from the second manifold to a disposal source.

23 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MANIFDLD II FKTENTED JiiL' 4 I972 V 3. 674.205

' sum 1 or 2 CONTROL AIR SUPPLY SOLVE PURGE SUPPLY mmsow mmrow I IMANIFO ELEcToR ALVE INVENTOR.

IT x ERHAHU Kum.

P'A'TENTEDJuL 41912 sum 2 0F 2 MANN-OLD CONTROL AIR SUPPLY MANIFOLD IPuke:

ma SUPPLY '1 I l LJET IE Zr DUMPIXGI 1 INVENTOR: .ERHAHIJ Kn 1m.

MULTIPLE COLOR PAINT SPRAY SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATEDAPPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applicationSer. No. 007,465, filed Feb. 2, 1970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a paint spraysystem in which a plurality of paints may be selectively supplied one ata time to a single spray outlet or to each gun of a multiple guninstallation. More particularly the invention is a spray paint controlsystem for selectively supplying to the spray outlet one of a number ofcolored paints and for rapidly changing from one color to another. Theinvention may be used with electrostatic or conventional sprayinstallations and is particularly useful in high speed finishingapplications in which a series of articles to be sprayed or coated aresequentially passed through a coating zone. In such systems, such as inthe paintingof automotive parts, it is desirable to finish a number ofparts in one color and then to rapidly change to another color. Therapid change is, of course, important to prevent the necessity ofstopping or slowing the conveyor or leaving a gap between parts on theconveyor while the change-over is taking place.

It is also desirable when changing from one color to another to providefor a means for purging the paint lines leading to the gun with asolvent to remove any paint residue from the previous color, prior toinitiating spraying the next selected color. Apparatuses which will feedseparate colors to a single spray outlet and which will also permit theoperator to clean the spray gun by passing a solvent through it as apart of the color change cycle are known and US. Pat. Nos. 3,219,273 and3,145,930 show devices of this general class.

One of the undesirable features in multiple color spray gun systemswhich include a solvent purge, particularly such as those shown in US.Pat. No. 3,155,539 and in my earlier U.S. pat. No. 3,450,092, is that,in flowing solvent through the paint lines and gun to remove the residueof the previous paint, the solvent leaving gun enters the painting zoneor spray booth which increases the fire hazard due to the volatility ofthe solvent. This is particularly true in systems where the solventpurge is conducted at an increased flow rate which is necessary toreduce the time for color change in order to keep pace with the movementthrough the spray zone of the objects being coated. The increased flowrate, due to increased supply pressure, will cause an increase in thespray area of the exiting solvent to further compound the fire hazard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a control system for apaint spray apparatus which is capable of rapidly switching from oneselected paint color to another, which includes a means for providing asolvent purge to remove paint residue from the entire system except forthe relatively short passages within the spray gun itself and which doesnot allow any solvent to enter the spray zone. These objects areaccomplished through use of a pair of parallel connected paint manifoldswhich are each connected to the sources of colored paints and solventand with each manifold connected to the spray gun or guns through a twoposition manifold selector valve. This valve is moved to alternatelyconnect one or the other manifold to the spray gun. When multiple gunsare used in one installation for spraying the same color, each gun mayhave its own manifold selector valve which are switched simultaneouslyso that all guns are shifted from one manifold to another.

Positioned adjacent the manifold selector valve and in the lineconnecting it to the manifold is a dump valve for each manifold which,in one position, allows the paint from that manifold to the manifoldselector valve and, in the other position, directs paint from thatmanifold to a waste dump, bypassing the manifold selector valve. In asecond embodiment a four-way manifold selector valve is used tosimultaneously supply paint of one color to the gun from one manifoldand direct a solvent purge from the second manifold to a disposalsource. With this system, and suitable valve controls, one manifold canbe purged and filled with the next selected color paint while the othermanifold is still supplying a first selected color paint to the spraygun. Upon movement of the manifold selector to connect the othermanifold to the gun, only a small amount of the old paint residue mustbe forced out through the gun prior to initiating spraying with thenewly selected paint and no solvent enters the spraying area. Theoperation and advantages of this system will be more fully understoodfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of thedual manifold paint supply system of this invention, showing paintmanifolds I and II each connected to a pressurized source of air,solvent, and paint colors A-D. The outlets of the manifolds I and II areshown connected to a single spray gun through the manifold selectorvalve.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the dualmanifold paint supply system of the invention showing the outlets ofmanifolds I and II connected to a four-way manifold selector valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a pair ofpaint manifolds, designated I and II, are shown with each having anelongated flow passage 10 extending throughout its length with the lowerend of the flow passage 10 connected to a manifold outlet line 11. Asschematically shown in the drawing, each manifold is formed by aplurality of valve segments which are secured together in a row to forman elongated manifold having a common flow passage extending throughoutits length.

As illustrated in the broken away portion of manifold II, a series ofinlet valves, each one contained in a valve segment, is connected to theflow passage 10 from top to bottom. Each of the corresponding inletvalves in each of the manifolds is connected through fluid supply lines12-17 to a pressurized source of air, solvent and paint colors A-D. Itshould be understood that any number of paint colors can be utilized inthis system with larger manifolds which provide a separate fluid inletvalve for each individual paint color and that the illustrated systemwhich includes onlyair, solvent and four paint colors is not intended tolimit the number of fluids which may be controlled using the principlesof the present system.

Each of the fluid inlet valves is pneumatically controlled by an aircylinder which, when actuated, moves to the left in the drawing ofmanifold II to open the fluid inlet valve for flow from the fluid supplycontrolled by that valve to the flow passage 10 within the manifold. Inthe drawing, the inlet valves and air cylinder for manifold I aredesignated as l-air, I-S (solvent), lA, etc. while the inlet valves andair cylinders for manifold II are designated in a similar manner. Eachof the air cylinders controlling the inlet valves are connected to asource of control air pressure through air lines 18 and 19 leading froma control air supply to branched air headers, each of which areconnected to the appropriate air cylinder through electricallycontrolled air valves 20-31 as indicated. A visual indicator 32 may beconnected in each header line between the air valves 20-31 and theappropriate air cylinder. The indicators 32, the details of which arenot shown, provide a visual indication of the position, open or closed,of the ap propriate paint inlet valve. It is apparent that the fluidinlet valves could also be electrically controlled using a solenoidwinding directly acting upon the valves.

The manifold outlet line 11 from each of the manifolds I and II isconnected to a manifold selector valve which is a two position valve foralternately connecting one or the other of the manifolds I or II to thespray gun through a spray gun supply line 33. The position of themanifold selector valve is shown as connecting manifold II to the gunsupply line 33. The manifold selector valve is pneumatically controlledthrough air control lines 34 and 35 which are connected to the controlair line 18 through a branch line 36 and an electrically controlled airvalve 37. The air valve 37, as shown in its lower position, connectscontrol air pressure to the line 34 while, in the upper, dotted lineposition, the control air is connected to the air control line 35 whichwill move the manifold selector valve to its other position to connectpaint manifold I to the gun.

A pair of bypass or dump valves I and II are connected to the respectivemanifold outlet lines 11 on either side of the manifold selector valveas shown. The dump valves I and II are pneumatically controlled byelectrically controlled air valves 38 and 39 and have an open position,in which the manifold outlets 11 are connected to a dump line 40 whichleads to a waste collector 41. In their closed position, the dump valvesI and II close communication between the dump line 40 and the manifoldoutlet lines 1 1. The position of the dump valves I and II is shown byindicators 42. The dump valves I and II and the manifold selector valvecould also be controlled electrically.

The supply of control air to each of the air solvent and paint inletvalves in both manifolds, the manifold selector valve, and the two dumpvalves I and II is electrically controlled so that a valve controlapparatus can be positioned in a control station remote from the spraybooth. The electrical control apparatus can be a manually operated pushbutton type in which the operator has an appropriate button for changingthe position of each of the valves so that any desired operatingsequence, as will be subsequently explained, can be manually controlledby the operator Preferably however, the electrical control for thecontrol air to the valve includes an automatic or semi-automatic cyclingdevice which is preprogrammed in accordance with the speed of theconveyor carrying the articles through the spray booth and desired colorvariations for those articles so that semior fully automatic colorchange can be preprogrammed into the electrical control apparatus. Onesuch device which has been successfully incorporated and which isrepresentative of a number of mechanical-electrical memory devices isgenerally known as an Edon Chain which is marketed by the EdonIndustrial Products Company, 2891 Industrial Row, Troy, Mich. 48084.This device is a driven endless chain having a plurality of movable pinswhich can be placed along the chain to actuate electrical switchespositioned in the path of the pins to open or close circuitry to controlthe position of the fluid valves in the color change system thusdescribed. Other electro-mechanical memory devices including punch cardor tape controlled computers may be readily adapted to program thedesired sequence of valve operation in the previously described systemand will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Using the color change apparatus previously described and as shown inthe drawing, the following are two examples of an operating sequencewhich may be used to rapidly effect the change from spraying one colorto spraying with another color.

EXAMPLE Assume that the spray gun is spraying the objects to be coatedwith paint color A from manifold II. In this condition, which is thatshown in the drawing, both of the dump valves I and II are closed, themanifold selector valve is in the position to connect manifold II withthe gun, the paint inlet and its air cylinder II-A are open while thevalves II-air, II-S and the other paint valves in manifolds II areclosed.

Assume that it is desired to spray with paint B for a given time and tosubsequently change again to spray with paint C. Manifold I will havebeen previously conditioned, as will be subsequently described, so thatit is filled with paint B in the manifold outlet line 11 up to manifoldselector valve. With the controller programmed to switch spraying topaint B and then to paint C, the following valve movement sequence takesplace:

l. The manifold selector valve moves to its alternate position toconnect manifold I to the spray gun through line 33. This of course cutsoff manifold II and the gun changes to paint B as soon as the remainingpaint A is pushed out of line 33 through the spray gun.

2. Dump valve II opens.

3. Inlet valve II-A closes and inlet valve II-S opens so that solventpurges the common flow passage 10 through manifold II, pushing paint Aout the dump valve II into dump line 40 to the waste collector 41.

. Inlet valve II-S closes and inlet valve Il-C opens, so that the newpaint color C pushes solvent out through the dump valve II to fill thelines leading to the manifold selector valve with paint C.

5. Dump valve II closes. In this condition, manifold II is nowpreconditioned to be ready to immediately supply paint of color C to thegun as soon as the manifold selector valve is again moved and the abovesequence is repeated on corresponding valves on the other manifold.

In the above described sequence of Example I, it should be noted thatsolvent never enters the spray booth through the spray gun, that eachmanifold is preconditioned to spray another color paint while the othermanifold is supplying paint to the gun so there is no down time, andthat the common flow passage 10 in the manifold and the lines leading upto the manifold selector valve are purged with solvent prior tointroduction of another color of paint.

EXAMPLE II Again assume that paint A being supplied to the gun throughmanifold II with the manifold selector valve in the position as shown.Assume that manifold I has been preconditioned and filled with paint B,as described with reference to Example I. With the electrical controlprogrammed to switch from paint A to paint B and later to paint C, thefollowing sequence of valve operation takes place:

I. Inlet valve II-A closes and valve II-S opens. In this condition,solvent pushes paint A through the common flow passage 10 of manifold IItowards the manifold selector valve.

2. The manifold selector valve moves to its alternate position toconnect manifold I and paint B to the spray gun. This stops the flow ofsolvent through the manifold outlet line 11 until dump valve II isopened. The time delay between the opening of the solvent valve 11-8 andthe switching of the manifold selector valve is such that the solventwhich is purging paint A from manifold II will completely clear manifoldII itself but will not reach the manifold selector valve. This timeinterval, is of course dependent upon the length of the manifold outlet11, and the rate of paint flow and is easily determined for a giveninstallation. This system has the advantage in that while paint A in themanifold is being purged by the solvent, most of the paint A in thesystem ahead of the solvent is pushed out to the spray gun, thusreducing the amount of paint loss in a color changeover.

3. Valve Il-S closes and valve II-C opens so that paint C pushes solventout of the manifold II and manifold outlet line 11 through the dumpvalve II.

4. Dump valve II closes so that manifold II is now preconditioned toimmediately supply paint C as soon as the manifold selector valve isagain switched to its position shown in the drawing.

It should be appreciated that in either of the operational sequencesdescribed in Examples I and II above, the dual manifold system has theadvantage of providing almost instantaneous change from one color toanother. Because each of the manifolds is being purged and conditionedwith a subsequent paint while the other manifold is still supplying adesired paint to the spray gun, the amount of time for an effectivecolor change is substantially reduced. For example, using a built upmanifold of 45 inches in length, the volume within the inanifoldsinternal passages is about 70 cc. When changing from one color toanother with an intermediate solvent change, the replaced liquid must bescrubbed in effect by the subsequent liquid so that several volumechanges within the manifold are necessary. For example, with a solventflow rate of 600 cc per minute, it would take approximately seconds topurge that manifold of a previous color with solvent and refill it witha subsequent color. Using the system of this invention, the completecolor change can be effected in approximately 2-3 seconds, dependingupon the length of the paint supply line 33. It is to be understood thatthe only time delay in changing from one paint to another in the instantsystem is that required to flow the new paint through the line 33 to thegun. By positioning the manifold selector valve as close as is possibleto the gun, this time is reduced to a minimum.

To further accelerate the paint change cycle, the source of solvent maybe under a pressure higher than that of thepaint sources so that supplyline 13 and solvent flowing through the manifolds I and II when thevalves 1-8 or II-S are open is under higher pressure and thus flows at ahigher rate. The higher solvent pressure also improves the purgingaction inthe interior of the manifolds. Such increased solvent pressuredoes not present any undesirable fire hazards in the present systembecause no solvent flows through the gun, as would be the case withprior art color change systems.

An air purge to dry the manifold interior and prevent solvent dilutionmay be included in the present system, using a source of air underpressure connected to the manifold I and II as shown in the drawing. Ifan air purge following the solvent purge is desired, the operatingsequence of Examples I and II would include the step of closing theappropriate solvent inlet valve and opening the appropriate air inletvalve for a predetermined time to push out solvent with air. Finally, itshould be noted that in each case, the solvent and air inlet valves arepositioned in the manifold at the end remote from the manifold outletline 11 so that solvent and air purges are effective to scrub the entirelength of the common flow channel 10 in the manifolds.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the timing of valvemovements in the sequence described in Examples I and Il may be variedto fit the desired installation to attain the advantages provided by thedual manifold system of this invention. The timing and sequence ofopening and closing each of the valves is, of course, dependent upon thefrequency with which the articles to be sprayed are presented in thespray zone and the particular selection of color sequence is, of course,dependent upon the desired color output for the articles being coated.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second embodiment substantially similar infunction and structure to the first embodiment described above is shown.In this embodiment, a four-way manifold selector valve 43 is positionedbetween the outlet lines 11 from manifolds I and II. The four-waymanifold selector valve 43 combines the functions of the manifoldselector valve and the dump valves I and II shown in FIG. 1.

The four-way valve 43 comprises a body 44 having a valve inlet 45connected to the manifold outlet 11 from manifold l and a valve inlet 46connected to the manifold outlet 11 from manifold II; a spray gun supplyoutlet 47 and a waste disposal outlet 48. A rotatable cylindrical valvemember 49 is located within a complementary bore 50 in the body 44. Twocurved passageways 51 within the cylindrical valve member 49 providefluid communication simultaneously from one of the valve inlets 45 or 46to the gun supply outlet 47 and from the other of the inlets 45 or 46 tothe waste disposal outlet 48.

The valve member 49 may be rotated by air actuated means toalternatively direct fluid selected from a color source in one of themanifolds, as described above, to the gun supply outlet 47 and purgingfluid from the second manifold to the waste disposal outlet 48. A singledump valve 52 downstream of the waste disposal outlet 47 provides ameans for controlling fluid flow from the purging manifold to the wastecollector 41.

Thus, for example, when the four-way selector valve 43 is positioned asshown in FIG. 2, a selected color from manifold II is supplied to thespray gun and the solvent and air purge being cycled through manifold Iis sent through the waste disposal outlet 48 to the waste collector 41.Prior to effecting a color change, solvent flow in manifold I from thesolvent supply line is terminated and flow from a selected color supplyline to purged manifold I is initiated, pushing the remaining solventthrough the wastedisposal outlet 48 and the single open dump valve 52 tothe waste collector 41. The color flow through manifold I toward thewaste collector is terminated by closing the single dump valve 52. Thusa selected color under pressure is now in manifold I and the manifoldoutlet line 11 up to the four-way selector valve 43. v

To effect color change, the cylindrical valve member 49 is rotated toplace the manifold outlet 11 from manifold I in fluid communicationwith. the spray gun supply outlet 47. Since the selected color frommanifold, I is already in the manifold outlet line 11 prior to shiftingthe four-way valve, the new color will rapidly enter the gun supply line33 and the gun when the valve 43 is shifted. Shifting of the four-wayvalve 43 will also place manifold II in fluid communication with thewaste disposal outlet 48 as described. The purging cycle is nowinitiated in manifold II. Thus the four-way valve 43 provides means forsimultaneously directing a selected color to the spray gun from onemanifold and purging fluid to the waste' collector 41 from the secondmanifold and means for realigning the manifold outlets 11 to exchangecolor supply and purging cycles from one manifold to the other. Otheradvantages of the present system in various modifications thereto willbe apparent tothose skilled in the art and may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I CLAIM:

l. A fluid control system for supplying a selected one of a plurality offluids to a single outlet with means for rapidly changing from oneselected fluid to another comprising, in combination, a single fluidoutlet, a first fluid manifold having a manifold outlet and connected tothe source of each of said plurality of fluids, a second manifold havinga manifold outlet and connected to said source of each of said pluralityof fluids, a plurality of inlet valves for individually controllingfluidflow from each fluid source into each of said manifolds, a manifoldselector valve operably connecting either said first or said secondmanifold outlets to said single fluid outlet, a first and a second dumpvalve positioned, respectively, in said first and second manifoldoutlets upstream of said manifold selector valve whereby, while onefluid is supplied to said single fluid outlet through said firstmanifold, said second manifold can be preconditioned to supply anotherfluid by opening said second dump valve and filling said second manifoldand its manifold outlet up to said open dump valve with said otherfluid.

2. The fluid control system of claim 1 which further includes means forpurging said manifolds with air to remove all other fluids therefrom.

3. The fluid control system of claim 1 which includes means to close thefluid inlet valve to said first manifold to terminate flow of one fluidand to open another inlet valve to initiate flow of another fluid insaid first manifold for a predetermined time prior to shitting saidmanifold selector valve to initiate fluid flow from said second manifoldto said single fluid outlet.

4. The fluid control system of claim 3 which further includes means foropening said first dump valve following movement of said manifoldselector valve to initiate fluid flow from said second manifold.

5. A multiple color spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun aselected paint color from. one of a plurality of color paint sources andfor rapidly changing from one color to another comprising, incombination, a pair of paint manifolds each having a manifold outlet andeach connected to the source of each of a plurality of paint colors, aplurality of paint inlet valves for individually controlling paint flowof each color paint into each of said pair of paint manifolds, a

manifold selector valve operably connecting one or the other of saidmanifold outlets to said spray gun, and a dump valve in each of saidmanifold outlets upstream of said manifold selector valve whereby, whilea first color paint is supplied to said spray gun through one manifold,the other of said manifolds can be preconditioned to supply anothercolor paint by opening said dump valve in said other manifold outlet andfilling said other manifold and said other manifold outlet up to saidopen dump valve with said other color paint.

6. The multiple color spray paint system of claim which further includesmeans for purging said manifolds with air to remove all other fluidstherefrom.

7. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 5 which furtherincludes a source of paint solvent connected to each of said manifoldsthrough a pair of solvent inlet valves and means to close the paintinlet valve to said one manifold to terminate flow of said first colorpaint and to open the solvent inlet valve to said one manifold toinitiate flow of solvent in said one manifold for a predetermined timeprior to shifting said manifold selector valve to initiate flow of saidother color paint from said other manifold to said spray gun.

8. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 7 which furtherincludes means for opening said dump valve of said one manifold aftershifting said manifold selector valve to initiate flow of said othercolor paint from said other manifold.

9. A method of supplying a selected one of a plurality of color paintsand for shifting from such selected one paint to another selected paintand supplying it to a paint spray gun from a pair of paint manifoldseach having a valved connection to each of said color paint sources anda valved connection to a source of solvent with said manifoldsalternately connected to said gun through a manifold selector valve andwith each manifold having a dump valve upstream of said manifoldselector valve comprising the steps of sequentially (1) closing thevalve supplying said selected one color to the one manifold connected tosaid spray gun and opening the solvent valve to that manifold toinitiate flow of solvent through that manifold toward said spray gun,(2) moving said manifold selector valve to connect said other manifoldto said spray gun to terminate flow of solvent toward said spray gun,(3) and opening the dump valve of said one manifold to direct solventflow therethrough.

10. The method of claim 9 which further includes the steps of (4)opening a paint inlet valve to initiate flow of another selected colorpaint from its source into said one manifold and (5) subsequentlyclosing the dump valve of said one manifold after filling said onemanifold with said other selected color paint.

1]. A multiple color spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun aselected paint color from one of a plurality of color paint sources andfor rapidly changing from one color to another comprising, incombination,

a plurality of pressurized sources of color paint,

a pressurized source of paint solvent,

a pair of paint manifolds each having a common flow passage incommunication with each of said paint sources and said solvent source,

a plurality of paint inlet valves in each paint manifold forindividually controlling flow of paint from said paint sources to saidcommon flow passage of said manifold,

a manifold outlet in each manifold at one end of said common flowpassage,

a solvent inlet valve in each paint manifold at the other end of saidcommon flow passage and upstream of all of said paint inlet valves,

a manifold selector valve for alternately connecting one or the other ofsaid manifold outlets to such spray gun and a dump valve between saidmanifold selector valve and the manifold outlet of each paint manifold.

12. The multiple color spray system of claim 11 which further includesmeans for automatically purging one of said manifolds with solventthrough its associated dump valve and for filling it with anotherselected color paint while said other manifold is supplying paint of aselected color through said manifold selector valve to said gun.

13. The multiple color spray system of claim 11 which further includesmeans for opening the dump valve and the solvent inlet valve to themanifold supplying paint to said gun a predetermined time prior toshifting said manifold selector valve to connect said other manifold tosaid gun.

14. A fluid control system for supplying a selected one of a pluralityof fluids to a single outlet with means for rapidly changing from oneselected fluid to another comprising, in combination, a single fluidoutlet, a first fluid manifold having a manifold outlet and connected tothe source of each of said plurality of fluids, a second manifold havinga manifold outlet and connected to said source of each of said pluralityof fluids, a plurality of inlet valves for individually controllingfluid flow from each fluid source into each of said manifolds, afour-way selector valve simultaneously operably connecting one of saidmanifold outlets to said single fluid outlet and the other of saidmanifold outlets to a waste outlet, whereby, while one fluid is suppliedto said single fluid outlet through said first manifold, said secondmanifold can be preconditioned to supply another fluid by filling saidsecond manifold and its manifold outlet up to said waste outlet withsaid other fluid.

15. The fluid control system of claim 14 which further in cludes meansfor purging said manifolds with air to remove all other fluidstherefrom.

16. The fluid control system of claim 14 which includes means to closethe fluid inlet valve to said first manifold to terrninate flow of onefluid and to open another inlet valve to initiate flow of another fluidin said first manifold for a predetermined time prior to shifting saidfour-way selector valve to initiate fluid flow from said second manifoldto said single fluid outlet and from said first manifold to said wasteoutlet.

17. A multiple color spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun aselected paint color from one of a plurality of color paint sources andfor rapidly changing from one color to another comprising, incombination, a pair of paint manifolds each having a manifold outlet andeach connected to the source of each of a plurality of paint colors, aplurality of paint inlet valves for individually controlling paint flowof each color paint into each of said pair of paint manifolds, a fourwayselector valve operably connecting one of said manifold outlets to saidspray gun and the other of said manifold outlets to a waste outletwhereby, while a first color paint is supplied to said spray gun throughone manifold, the other of said manifolds can be preconditioned tosupply another color paint by filling said other manifold and said othermanifold outlet up to said waste outlet with said other color paint.

18. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 17 which furtherincludes means for purging said manifolds with air to remove all otherfluids therefrom.

19. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 17 which furtherincludes a source of paint solvent connected to each of said manifoldsthrough a pair of solvent inlet valves and means to close the paintinlet valve to said one manifold to terminate flow of said first colorpaint and to open the solvent inlet valve to said one manifold toinitiate flow of solvent in said one manifold for a predetermined timeprior to shifting said fourway valve to initiate flow of said othercolor paint from said other manifold to said spray gun.

20. A multiple color spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun aselected paint color from one of a plurality of color paint sources andfor rapidly changing from one color to another comprising, incombination,

a plurality of pressurized sources of color paint,

a pressurized source of paint solvent,

a pair of paint manifolds each having a common flow passage incommunication with each of said paint sources and said solvent source,

a plurality of paint inlet valves in each paint manifold forindividually controlling flow of paint from said paint sources to saidcommon flow passage of said manifold,

a manifold outlet in each manifold at one end of said common flowpassage,

a solvent inlet valve in each paint manifold at the other end of saidcommon flow passage and upstream of all of said paint inlet valves,

a four-way manifold selector valve for alternately connecting one or theother of said manifold outlets to such spray gun and simultaneouslyconnecting the remaining one of said manifold outlets to a waste outlet.

21. The multiple color spray system of claim 20 which further includesmeans for automatically purging one of said manifolds with solventthrough said four-way selector valve and said waste outlet and forfilling it with another selected color paint while said other manifoldis supplying paint of a selected color through said four-way manifoldselector valve to said gun.

22. A method of supplying a selected one of a plurality of color paintsand for shifting from such selected one paint to another selected paintand supplying it to a paint spray gun from a pair of paint manifoldseach having a valved connection to each of said color paint sources anda valved connection to a source of solvent with said manifoldsalternately connected to said gun through a selector valve comprisingthe steps of sequentially (1) closing the valve supplying said selectedone color to the one manifold connected to said spray gun and openingthe solvent valve to that manifold to initiate flow of solvent throughthat manifold toward said spray gun, (2) shifting said manifold selectorvalve to connect said other manifold to said spray gun and to terminateflow of solvent toward said spray gun and to connect said one manifoldto said waste outlet to direct solvent flow therethrough.

23. A multiple color paint spraying system comprising, in combination, afirst manifold and a second manifold, a plurality of fluid inletconduits in fluid communication with each of said manifolds, a manifoldoutlet conduit extending from each of said manifolds to a commonselector valve downstream of said manifolds, a paint spray outlet and awaste disposal outlet operably connected to said selector valve, andmeans for alternately directing the flow of one fluid from one of saidfluid inlet conduits through one of said manifolds to said paint sprayoutlet and the flow of a second fluid from another of said fluid inletconduits through the other of said manifolds to said waste disposaloutlet.

1. A fluid control system for supplying a selected one of a plurality offluids to a single outlet with means for rapidly changing from oneselected fluid to another comprising, in combination, a single fluidoutlet, a first fluid manifold having a manifold outlet and connected tothe source of each of said plurality of fluids, a second manifold havinga manifold outlet and connected to said source of each of said pluralityof fluids, a plurality of inlet valves for individually controllingfluid flow from each fluid source into each of said manifolds, amanifold selector valve operably connecting either said first or saidsecond manifold outlets to said single fluid outlet, a first and asecond dump valve positioned, respectively, in said first and secondmanifold outlets upstream of said manifold selector valve whereby, whileone fluid is supplied to said single fluid outlet through said firstmanifold, said second manifold can be preconditioned to supply anotherfluid by opening said second dump valve and filling said second manifoldand its manifold outlet up to said open dump valve with said otherfluid.
 2. The fluid control system of claim 1 which further includesmeans for purging said manifolds with air to remove all other fluidstherefrom.
 3. The fluid control system of claim 1 which includes meansto close the fluid inlet valve to said first manifold to terminate flowof one fluid and to open another inlet valve to initiate flow of anotherfluid in said first manifold for a predetermined time prior to shiftingsaid manifold selector valve to initiate fluid flow from said secondmanifold to said single fluid outlet.
 4. The fluid control system ofclaim 3 which further includes means for opening said first dump valvefollowing movement of said manifold selector valve to initiate fluidflow from said second manifold.
 5. A multiple color spray paint systemfor supplying to a spray gun a selected paint color from one of aplurality of color paint sources and for rapidly changing from one colorto another comprising, in combination, a pair of paint manifolds eachhaving a manifold outlet and each connected to the source of each of aplurality of paint colors, a plurality of paint inlet valves forindividually controlling paint flow of each color paint into each ofsaid pair of paint manifolds, a manifold selector valve operablyconnecting one or the other of said manifold outlets to said spray gun,and a dump valve in each of said manifold outlets upstream of saidmanifold selector valve whereby, while a first color paint is suppliedto said spray gun through one manifold, the other of said manifolds canbe preconditioned to supply another color paint by opening said dumpvalve in said other manifold outlet and filling said other manifold andsaid other manifold outlet up to said open dump valve with said othercolor paint.
 6. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 5 whichfurther includes means for purging said manifolds with air to remove allother fluids therefrom.
 7. The multiple color spray paint system ofclaim 5 which further includes a source of paint solvent connected toeach of said manifolds through a pair of solvent inlet valves and meansto close the paint inlet valve to said one manifold to terminate flow ofsaid first color paint and to open the solvent inlet valve to said onemanifold to initiate flow of solvent in said one manifold for apredetermined time prior to shifting said manifold selector valve toinitiate flow of said other color paint from said other manifold to saidspray gun.
 8. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 7 whichFurther includes means for opening said dump valve of said one manifoldafter shifting said manifold selector valve to initiate flow of saidother color paint from said other manifold.
 9. A method of supplying aselected one of a plurality of color paints and for shifting from suchselected one paint to another selected paint and supplying it to a paintspray gun from a pair of paint manifolds each having a valved connectionto each of said color paint sources and a valved connection to a sourceof solvent with said manifolds alternately connected to said gun througha manifold selector valve and with each manifold having a dump valveupstream of said manifold selector valve comprising the steps ofsequentially (1) closing the valve supplying said selected one color tothe one manifold connected to said spray gun and opening the solventvalve to that manifold to initiate flow of solvent through that manifoldtoward said spray gun, (2) moving said manifold selector valve toconnect said other manifold to said spray gun to terminate flow ofsolvent toward said spray gun, (3) and opening the dump valve of saidone manifold to direct solvent flow therethrough.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 which further includes the steps of (4) opening a paint inletvalve to initiate flow of another selected color paint from its sourceinto said one manifold and (5) subsequently closing the dump valve ofsaid one manifold after filling said one manifold with said otherselected color paint.
 11. A multiple color spray paint system forsupplying to a spray gun a selected paint color from one of a pluralityof color paint sources and for rapidly changing from one color toanother comprising, in combination, a plurality of pressurized sourcesof color paint, a pressurized source of paint solvent, a pair of paintmanifolds each having a common flow passage in communication with eachof said paint sources and said solvent source, a plurality of paintinlet valves in each paint manifold for individually controlling flow ofpaint from said paint sources to said common flow passage of saidmanifold, a manifold outlet in each manifold at one end of said commonflow passage, a solvent inlet valve in each paint manifold at the otherend of said common flow passage and upstream of all of said paint inletvalves, a manifold selector valve for alternately connecting one or theother of said manifold outlets to such spray gun and a dump valvebetween said manifold selector valve and the manifold outlet of eachpaint manifold.
 12. The multiple color spray system of claim 11 whichfurther includes means for automatically purging one of said manifoldswith solvent through its associated dump valve and for filling it withanother selected color paint while said other manifold is supplyingpaint of a selected color through said manifold selector valve to saidgun.
 13. The multiple color spray system of claim 11 which furtherincludes means for opening the dump valve and the solvent inlet valve tothe manifold supplying paint to said gun a predetermined time prior toshifting said manifold selector valve to connect said other manifold tosaid gun.
 14. A fluid control system for supplying a selected one of aplurality of fluids to a single outlet with means for rapidly changingfrom one selected fluid to another comprising, in combination, a singlefluid outlet, a first fluid manifold having a manifold outlet andconnected to the source of each of said plurality of fluids, a secondmanifold having a manifold outlet and connected to said source of eachof said plurality of fluids, a plurality of inlet valves forindividually controlling fluid flow from each fluid source into each ofsaid manifolds, a four-way selector valve simultaneously operablyconnecting one of said manifold outlets to said single fluid outlet andthe other of said manifold outlets to a waste outlet, whereby, while onefluid is supplied to said single fluid outlet Through said firstmanifold, said second manifold can be preconditioned to supply anotherfluid by filling said second manifold and its manifold outlet up to saidwaste outlet with said other fluid.
 15. The fluid control system ofclaim 14 which further includes means for purging said manifolds withair to remove all other fluids therefrom.
 16. The fluid control systemof claim 14 which includes means to close the fluid inlet valve to saidfirst manifold to terminate flow of one fluid and to open another inletvalve to initiate flow of another fluid in said first manifold for apredetermined time prior to shifting said four-way selector valve toinitiate fluid flow from said second manifold to said single fluidoutlet and from said first manifold to said waste outlet.
 17. A multiplecolor spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun a selected paintcolor from one of a plurality of color paint sources and for rapidlychanging from one color to another comprising, in combination, a pair ofpaint manifolds each having a manifold outlet and each connected to thesource of each of a plurality of paint colors, a plurality of paintinlet valves for individually controlling paint flow of each color paintinto each of said pair of paint manifolds, a four-way selector valveoperably connecting one of said manifold outlets to said spray gun andthe other of said manifold outlets to a waste outlet whereby, while afirst color paint is supplied to said spray gun through one manifold,the other of said manifolds can be preconditioned to supply anothercolor paint by filling said other manifold and said other manifoldoutlet up to said waste outlet with said other color paint.
 18. Themultiple color spray paint system of claim 17 which further includesmeans for purging said manifolds with air to remove all other fluidstherefrom.
 19. The multiple color spray paint system of claim 17 whichfurther includes a source of paint solvent connected to each of saidmanifolds through a pair of solvent inlet valves and means to close thepaint inlet valve to said one manifold to terminate flow of said firstcolor paint and to open the solvent inlet valve to said one manifold toinitiate flow of solvent in said one manifold for a predetermined timeprior to shifting said four-way valve to initiate flow of said othercolor paint from said other manifold to said spray gun.
 20. A multiplecolor spray paint system for supplying to a spray gun a selected paintcolor from one of a plurality of color paint sources and for rapidlychanging from one color to another comprising, in combination, aplurality of pressurized sources of color paint, a pressurized source ofpaint solvent, a pair of paint manifolds each having a common flowpassage in communication with each of said paint sources and saidsolvent source, a plurality of paint inlet valves in each paint manifoldfor individually controlling flow of paint from said paint sources tosaid common flow passage of said manifold, a manifold outlet in eachmanifold at one end of said common flow passage, a solvent inlet valvein each paint manifold at the other end of said common flow passage andupstream of all of said paint inlet valves, a four-way manifold selectorvalve for alternately connecting one or the other of said manifoldoutlets to such spray gun and simultaneously connecting the remainingone of said manifold outlets to a waste outlet.
 21. The multiple colorspray system of claim 20 which further includes means for automaticallypurging one of said manifolds with solvent through said four-wayselector valve and said waste outlet and for filling it with anotherselected color paint while said other manifold is supplying paint of aselected color through said four-way manifold selector valve to saidgun.
 22. A method of supplying a selected one of a plurality of colorpaints and for shifting from such selected one paint to another selectedpaint and supplying it to a paint spray Gun from a pair of paintmanifolds each having a valved connection to each of said color paintsources and a valved connection to a source of solvent with saidmanifolds alternately connected to said gun through a selector valvecomprising the steps of sequentially (1) closing the valve supplyingsaid selected one color to the one manifold connected to said spray gunand opening the solvent valve to that manifold to initiate flow ofsolvent through that manifold toward said spray gun, (2) shifting saidmanifold selector valve to connect said other manifold to said spray gunand to terminate flow of solvent toward said spray gun and to connectsaid one manifold to said waste outlet to direct solvent flowtherethrough.
 23. A multiple color paint spraying system comprising, incombination, a first manifold and a second manifold, a plurality offluid inlet conduits in fluid communication with each of said manifolds,a manifold outlet conduit extending from each of said manifolds to acommon selector valve downstream of said manifolds, a paint spray outletand a waste disposal outlet operably connected to said selector valve,and means for alternately directing the flow of one fluid from one ofsaid fluid inlet conduits through one of said manifolds to said paintspray outlet and the flow of a second fluid from another of said fluidinlet conduits through the other of said manifolds to said wastedisposal outlet.